Cycling:Andy Schleck today lambasted Alberto Contador after the Spaniard seized the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey by taking advantage of his rival's mechanical problem.
Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), resplendent in the French national champion’s jersey, won the 187.5-kilometre stage from Pamiers to Bagneres-de-Luchon, but in a highly-eventful Tour there was yet another twist.
Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) lost around 40 seconds when his chain slipped as he attempted to attack on the 19.3km Port de Bales hors categorie (beyond category) climb and he finished 39 seconds behind Contador to fall back into second place overall.
Contador (Astana) capitalised on his rival’s problem and went ahead — normally with a mechanical problem in cycling a rival would not take advantage.
The Spaniard, seeking a third title in four years, led by 27 seconds at the summit of the day’s final climb and extended his advantage on the descent.
Contador now possesses an eight-second lead over Schleck with five days of racing remaining.
Contador began the day 31 seconds behind Schleck after the duo played cat and mouse on yesterday’s opening stage in the Pyrenees.
Today featured a category four climb and two more difficult category two climbs, but it was always going to be the fourth and final climb where any attack would happen.
Voeckler reached the summit of the 19.3km Port de Bales first, having been in the day’s 10-man escape group. But the events behind him were to impact on the race to Paris.
Schleck attacked, but was matched by his rivals — including Contador. The Luxembourg rider continued to forge forward, attacking again only to be undone by his chain slipping with 3km still to climb.
Contador went ahead, reaching the top of the climb 27 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey.
The summit came 21.5km before a steep descent to the finish and Schleck was one second further behind Contador with 10km remaining.
But the Spaniard extended his advantage in the closing kilometres and finished two minutes 50 seconds behind Voeckler — but crucially 39 seconds ahead of Schleck.
Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing) was second to Schleck, finishing 1min 20secs behind alongside Aitor Perez Arrieta (Footon Servetto).
Contador was one of seven riders to finish in the third group, while Schleck finished 3:29 behind Voeckler today.
In Spa, Fabian Cancellara, then in possession of the yellow jersey, organised for the peloton to wait in as his Team Saxo Bank leaders Andy and Frank Schleck — now out of the race after injuring his shoulder on stage three — crashed on a day when many riders struggled in slippery conditions.
Contador — against usual convention when another rider is afflicted with a mechanical problem — today rode on.
Schleck said he confronted Contador behind the podium following the presentation of the jerseys.
He said: “I asked him in there, how can you do that?”
Contador, who won the Tour in 2007 and 2009, insists he was not aware of Schleck’s predicament.
After his Astana team-mate Alexandre Vinokourov had rounded Schleck on the right, Contador passed on the left and accelerated away.
Schleck then had to attend to his chain, delaying him before he could build momentum on the incline and attempt to respond.
Contador was booed on the podium as he received the fabled maillot jaune — a prize he is aiming to keep until Paris.
The 27-year-old said: “We stopped in Spa when he had a bad crash — today it was something different.
“I understand that he is disappointed for what happened today, but when that happened I was on the attack.
“At the moment I attacked the situation was very close, very tight. I attacked before I knew he had problems with his chain and I was already ahead. It was not possible to do what we did in Spa and stop the race.”
Contador attempted to play down the time gained on his rival but was nonetheless pleased to take the yellow jersey.
“Thirty seconds at this point won’t change if you win the Tour de France or not,” he said.
“What is important is that I gained time today. For me it doesn’t change anything — the goal is still Paris and I will keep focused on the race.
“It’s always a pleasure to have the yellow jersey and it’s also very important to take time from my rivals.”
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche fell back to 17th spot in the general classification after losing time on the last climb to finish 37th on the stage, seven minutes and 52 seconds behind Voeckler.